Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nairobi or San Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and San Diego can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or San Diego?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67San Diego $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $251. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nairobi and San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12San Diego $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24San Diego $248
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or San Diego? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nairobi Hotel Prices and San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11San Diego $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Airport transfers: $180
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $160
- Private Shuttle Van Transfer: $100
- Nairobi Airports Private Transfers: $100
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha: $70
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $138
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Tijuana Intl Airport (TIJ) to Playas de Rosarito - Arrival Private Transfer: $269
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Sedan Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego: $160
- San Diego hotel/address to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $128
- Private Transfer from Tijuana to Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe: $147
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego Airport (SAN): $69
- Private Transfer from San Diego City to San Diego (SAN) Airport: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Nairobi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNairobi $13San Diego $84
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner Experience: $90
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers: $100
- Authentic home dinner with a local Family in Nairobi: $108
- Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $79
- Vegan Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $89
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gaslamp District Food Tour with 6 Local Dishes: $96
- San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $97
- San Diego Chinese Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $99
- Vegan Italian Cooking Class in San Diego Cucina Migrante: $105
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise: $108
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise with Drinks: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46San Diego $57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hell's Gate Bicycle Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $280
- 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
- 1 Day Purple Farm Tour from Nairobi Tea Tasting and Lunch: $295
- 1-Day Mount Longonot Hiking Adventure From Nairobi: $195
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Group Joining Safari With Guided Tour: $250
- 3 Days 8th Wonder Of The World with Maasai Mara Great Tour: $242
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Group Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $295
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Shared Tour with Private Accommodation: $250
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
- 3 Days and 2 Night Maasai Mara Group Safari Tour: $295
- 3 Hour Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park Tour: $95
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
- 2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Polaris GoCar: $231
- 2-Hour GoCar Tour: Downtown San Diego and Old Town or Beaches: $52
- 2-Hour San Diego Pier Fishing Experience: $75
- 2.5-Hour Small-Group Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Drinks: $119
- 2Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa Park: $82
- 2Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Old Town: $82
- 4 Hour Self-Guided Electric Bike Tour or Rental: $87
- Alpaca Experience in El Cajon California: $38
- Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Pictures: $75
- Beers, Tacos & Beach Cruisers: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16San Diego $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $20
- Gaslamp Bar Crawl: $20
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: True Crime & Ghost Stories: $35
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- The most fun wine tour of the Guadalupe Valley: $120
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and San Diego is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or San Diego?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Diego. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and San Diego, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.